Beauty pageant turns ‘ugly’ amid claims winner was ‘rigged’

A popular beauty contest has been engulfed in drama over claims judges “rigged” the voting, resulting in a government investigation.

A popular beauty pageant has been engulfed in controversy after accusations of “rigging” that resulted in judges not being allowed to leave the country.

Samoa’s Litara Ieremia Allan was recently crowned the winner of the Miss Pacific Islands competition held in Honiara on the Solomon Islands.

However, the result sparked uproar after it emerged the final decision had been made by head judge Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, a lawyer from Samoa who had the casting vote after an initial tie between the Samoan and Tongan contestants.

After “ultimately crowning Miss Samoa as the winner”, the annual contest descended into chaos as many disputed the results.

At one stage, the judges were even prevented from leaving the Solomon Islands after the local government issued a “stop order” against them, with Mr Brunt reportedly being accosted at the airport by police as he tried to fly home.

Controversy has erupted after allegations voting for the Miss Pacific Islands was rigged after Samoa’s Litara Ieremia Allan was crowned the 2025 winner. Picture: Miss Pacific Islands/Facebook

The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant Board of Directors have now issued a statement on Facebook addressing the allegations, stating it “deeply regrets the distress caused” after its contestants and judges became targets of awful abuse.

“Unfortunately these allegations have escalated to the extent of subjecting contestants to degrading treatment and issuing threats against the lives of certain judges thereby detrimentally impacting the camaraderie and ethos of the pageant,” it stated.

It went on to state the pageant was established to “unite young women” and “promote cultural exchange” before congratulating Litara Ieremia Allan on her win.

However, reaction to the statement appears to have fallen flat on social media, with some describing the response as “utterly infuriating”.

Head judge Jerry Brunt was accused of favouring the Somoan entrant and was prevented from leaving Honiara on the Solomon Islands when tensions exploded. Picture: Supplied

Tensions erupted after an initial tie between the Samoan and Tongan contestants following the glamorous week-long event, which featured a sarong parade instead of swimsuits, and traditional clothing instead of evening gowns.

Results “scrutineer” Pamela Naesol, an accountant from the Solomon Islands, said points from various rounds were fed into a spreadsheet, showing both women had earned equal amounts.

As a result, Mr Brunt had the deciding vote, eventually crowning Miss Samoa as the winner.

Shortly after, unsubstantiated claims of vote rigging began circulating online that were further fuelled by grainy footage of the voting process.

Decisions on the winner have been upheld but the local government have launched an investigation. Picture: Miss Pacific Islands/Facebook

The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant board of directors described the online abuse as ‘concerning’. Picture: Miss Pacific Islands/Facebook

Mr Brunt has fiercely defended any wrongdoing, stating: “I’ve done nothing wrong”.

“I hold the integrity of the entire Pacific Islands pageant show in high regard, and I feel saddened by these false accusations,” he told local outlet In-depth Solomons on Monday.

“Again, I really don’t know where the conspiracy and allegations are coming from.

“God is my witness.”

While he, and fellow judges prevented from leaving Honiara have since had their “stop notices” lifted – but the Solomon Islands government have stepped in to launch an investigation after the competition took an “ugly” turn.

Originally published as Beauty pageant turns ‘ugly’ amid claims winner was ‘rigged’